CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 28: James Harden #1 and Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers boxes out during the game against the Washington Wizards on October 28, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Kolin/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Washington Wizards 121-111 after trailing by double digits at halftime. It’s Cleveland’s third win in a row.
Evan Mobley led the Cavs in scoring with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Mobley, in particular, had it rolling from downtown with 5-of-6 three-point attempts going in. He fell one shy of his career-high (six versus Charlotte in the 2024-25 season).
This wasn’t exactly a defensive masterclass in the first half. Cleveland struggled to get back in transition or in the half-court matchup, with Washington hanging 42 points on them while shooting 13-for-18 inside of two-point range.
The Wizards scored 26 points in the paint during the first quarter. AJ Dybantsa, last summer’s No. 1 overall pick, scored 9 points and didn’t miss a shot in his first stint.
Cleveland eventually found a spark in the second quarter as Peyton Watson began scoring from all three levels. He buried a few jumpers from the mid-range before stepping out behind the arc and canning a three-pointer. Watson finished the half with 16 points on 7-11 shooting.
Still, the Cavs found themselves down by double digits heading into halftime for the second straight game. Their poor interior and transition defense was to blame.
There was a marginal increase in effort for the second half. Not enough to avoid another backdoor alley-oop, but the Cavs amped their intensity to the point where it was a tie game entering the fourth quarter. Half of the battle is giving yourself a chance to win in the end.
The Cavs carried that momentum into the fourth quarter, where timely shots from Mario Hezonja and Meleek Thomas put them in front. Thomas, who won over Cleveland in his debut on Monday, had another strong performance on the defensive end.
A win tonight makes the Cavs 3-1 on the season, with another game tomorrow on the road against the Atlanta Hawks. They’ll conclude the month of October with a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Halloween night.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Yandy Díaz kept flexing his left knee between pitches. Then he drew a walk and kept going.
The Rays' leadoff hitter appeared to twist the knee during his at-bat in the third inning of Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday night. He stepped out once, with Rays manager Kevin Cash and trainer Joe Benge coming out to look at him, and again flexing his knee as he went to get a new bat. He finished the at-bat and took first base.
There, he called time again and a trainer came out. Díaz stayed in, but he limped into third on a fly ball and walked slowly off the field.
"I hope he is OK," Rays manager Kevin Cash said in an in-game interview on FOX. "We need his bat in there."
Tampa Bay trails the series 3-1 and trailed in the game 1-0 at the time of Diaz’s injury. No team has forced a Game 6 after falling behind 3-0 in the World Series. The Rays are already playing with Junior Caminero on a sore left foot from Game 4, and now their 35-year-old designated hitter is hurting too.
Díaz has dealt with this knee before. He left an August 2022 game against the Kansas City Royals with left knee soreness, and an August 2024 game against the San Diego Padres with left knee patellar tendinitis.
“We need the bat to stay in. He’ll get some treatment. Good thing he’s a DH.”
He hit .293 in the regular season. He and Steven Matz are the only Rays who had played in a World Series before this one, and Díaz did it with Tampa Bay in 2020. He had three hits in the Rays' Game 5 win over Cleveland in the ALCS. In this series, he had two hits in Game 3, then a hit and a walk in Game 4.
Diaz is one of the most reliable bats in the Rays lineup. He hit .293 this season, third best in the American League, with 22 home runs and 85 RBIs, and he led the AL with 180 hits on his way to a second All-Star selection.
If the knee forces him out, Cash doesn’t have much to work with. He already said Tuesday that the bench was thin. Cedric Mullins, Nick Fortes and Jorge Mateo have combined for seven plate appearances through the first seven games. Victor Mesa, Jr. and Mullins are the left-handed options. Mateo and Fortes the right-handed onese. Richie Palacios is another left.
CHICAGO — Mike Brown said he’s waiting for the Knicks to get back “on track” before incorporating some of the younger players — specifically Mo Diawara and Pacôme Dadiet.
“It’s tough because going into the season early on, one of [the] things I wanted to experiment with is playing 10 or 10 ½ guys [as my rotation],” Brown said. “And Mo is in that mix. Mo and Pac. Give them different opportunities at different times. And we experimented with different stuff and our players not getting it done caused us to start off a little slow.
“So to get us on track, we’re going to hold the fort down with a veteran group of guys. Hopefully we get to the point sooner than later that I can start throwing those [young] guys out there.”
New York Knicks forward Mohamed Diawara rebounds the ball during the third quarter in a game against the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden in New York, Friday, April 10, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
Brown, meanwhile, has warned in his news conferences, at least twice, that the bench rotation is fluid.
Spots can be won or lost. The coach proved it already by benching Andre Drummond, a demotion that only lasted about a half against the Magic. Still, Brown’s nine- to 10-man rotation had been fairly consistent heading into Wednesday against the Bulls, with the one wrinkle being Tyler Kolek’s inclusion because Jose Alvarado missed three straight games with an ankle sprain.
With everybody healthy, it looked like this:
PG: Jalen Brunson, Alvarado
SG: Mikal Bridges, Miles McBride, Jordan Clarkson
SF: Josh Hart, Landry Shamet
PF: OG Anunoby
C: Karl-Anthony Towns, Drummond
New York Knicks forward Mohamed Diawara (51) shoots during practice at their training facility in Tarrytown, N.Y., Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. Corey Sipkin for NY Post
Notably absent from virtually any playing time was Diawara, a rangy forward who was a bit of a revelation as a second-round pick last season but lost his rotation spot before the playoffs. Diawara earned a new contract — four years, $11.3 million (only half guaranteed) — but not more playing time.
At least not yet.
Diawara’s would-be minutes were going to Clarkson, the rotation’s 10th man. However, Brown only went with nine players in Tuesday’s victory over the Pistons — leaving Clarkson with his first DNP.
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown reacts on the baseline in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. The New York Knicks defeated the Detroit Pistons 111-97. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“Our starting five is what it is,” Brown said. “But everybody else after that, until we find something that’s working consistently, I’m going to try to give different guys opportunities.”
In the bigger picture, the rotation underscores how the Knicks weren’t created through the draft. Following Mitchell Robinson’s defection to Beantown, they’re down to just one homegrown pick as a rotation player — McBride. Kolek, who played a combined 26 minutes in the two games prior to Wednesday, might be the last hope of the 2024 draft class.
Dadiet (the 25th pick that year) is out of the rotation and headed toward free agency if, as assumed, the Knicks don’t pick up next season’s contract by Saturday’s deadline. Kevin McCullar Jr. (56th pick) was waived last week. Ariel Hukporti (58th) left for the Sixers in free agency.
New York Knicks forward Pacome Dadiet (4) dunks the ball in the second half of a preseason game at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in New York. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Part of this is the product of the second apron. The Knicks traded out of the first round this year because it would’ve been more expensive to make the pick. In 2024, they drafted Dadiet in the first round because he was willing to sign for less money.
A year ago, the main reason the Knicks inked Diawara to a standard contract was his low salary, just to stay under the apron. Then he unexpectedly cracked the rotation. Now Diawara has to wait for the Knicks to settle in comfortably before his next opportunity.
Karl-Anthony Towns suffered an apparent wrist injury in the New York Knicks' matchup against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
In the first quarter, Jalen Brunson brought the ball down the court for the defending champions. He passed the ball to Towns, who was just inside the arc. Noa Essengue was guarding Brunson and chased him around the perimeter, running into Towns and knocking Towns down. Towns laid on the hardwood for a small amount of time and writhed in pain.
Karl-Anthony Towns has gone back to the locker room of Bulls-Knicks after an apparent wrist injury. pic.twitter.com/xMAt7OP9XX
MINNEAPOLIS — Six months since his falling out with the Warriors, Jonathan Kuminga uttered the name of his former team only once in a stilted, five-minute media session before facing them for the first time as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The former lottery pick was asked about the matchup with his successor as the torch carrier of the next era of Warriors basketball, who also happens to wear No. 1, Yaxel Lendeborg.
“I haven’t really watched the Warriors,” he said, apparently not even in film sessions.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jonathan Kuminga celebrates making a shot against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Target Center in Minneapolis on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
As far as his current team, Kuminga’s showdown with the organization that drafted him was overshadowed by bigger news: A knee injury that will require Anthony Edwards to get surgery.
That fit right in with Kuminga’s view on the matchup. He squared off against his former team once after he was traded to the Hawks in February for Kristaps Porzingis, coming off the bench and playing little role in handing the Warriors a 126-110 loss, shooting 1-of-9 from the field.
“It’s just another day. Just another game against any other team,” he said. “I’m sure there will be some familiar faces, people that I spent a lot of time with the last few years. But it’s just another day. It’s just another day in the NBA. Nothing more than that.”
Edwards’ absence, however, only increased the spotlight on Kuminga on the court. While he has adopted the role-player mentality the Warriors have always asked of him, he should get more of an opportunity to be featured offensively while they try to make up for Edwards’ loss.
In his first four games, Kuminga has averaged 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 29.8 minutes. The biggest difference between his time with Golden State has been his active defense, his willingness to take a backseat offensively and a 3-point shot that has hit at a 46.7% rate.
Jonathan Kuminga (24) of the Minnesota Timberwolves prepares to shoot a free throw during an NBA preseason game against the Detroit Pistons at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
“Like most young players, he’s learning and growing and getting better,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who had a strained relationship with Kuminga. “More power to him. I want him to have a great career. This seems like a great spot. He’s got a great coach, Chris [Finch], and he’s playing with some superstar players in the backcourt. … Yeah, wish him well.”
The path to the court from the Timberwolves locker room passes the visitors’ set up in the tunnels of Target Center, so Kuminga crossed paths with some of his former teammates and coaches before tipoff. That didn’t include Kerr, though he said he planned to say hello.
He was asked to compare and contrast Kuminga with Lendeborg, who is two months older and was drafted 11th overall this past June. Lendeborg has logged at least 30 minutes in all but his first NBA game, a threshold Kuminga only reached six times in his final season under Kerr.
“They’re very different players,” Kerr said. “This is a different era for us. We wish Jonathan well.”
Connor McDavid made a bold claim ahead of the Amazon Prime Sports matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. He called Evan Bouchard the best defenseman in the NHL last season, saying, "He shouldn't have been a finalist last year; he should have won."
McDavid was, of course, talking about the Norris Trophy. Bouchard was overlooked after scoring the most points as a defenseman in the NHL during the 2025-26 campaign. The finalists were Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres, Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, and Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Werenski walked away with the honors.
Bouchard, who led all NHL blueliners with 95 points (21 goals, 74 assists) and a +25 rating during the 2025–26 season, was snubbed.
"He got off to a bad start, no question. Our whole team did, " said McDavid. "I did. Everyone did here in Edmonton. But he is a special player. Makes great plays with the puck. Nobody sees the game better than he does. Plays a lot of minutes. Plays on the kill. Does everything that's asked of him.":
"So as I said, he shouldn't have been a finalist. He should have won."
NHL superstar Connor McDavid is adamant that his teammate Evan Bouchard should've won the Norris in 2025-26. 🏆😤
Given the start to Bouchard's 2026-27 season, one could make an argument he won't be ignored this season. It's early, but Bouchard is tied for fourth in NHL points. He leads all defensemen.
Bouchard's progression has been worth watching. He was once labeled an offensively elite d-man, but not defensively strong; he's since shaken that label. He's not just reliable and solid at both ends of the ice; he's being asked to bring other defensemen along.
As the Oilers showed when they played the Red Wings and he paired with Shakir Muhkamadullin, Bouchard can carry less-defensive partners without hurting his own game.@bcurlok writes, "Coaches should bookmark that. Give the man the responsibility."
Is McDavid correct? Or, is this the case of a teammate being bias?
See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source.Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Boston, MA - October 27: Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. hits a 3-pointer to force overtime. The Boston Celtics played the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden on October 27, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Jaylen isn’t the only Brown who isn’t a fan of Jayson Tatum these days.
To paraphrase Frank Isola on the YES Network postgame show: Brooklyn Nets rookie Mikel Brown Jr. hit the biggest shot of the night, but he also made the biggest blunder. And Tatum made him pay.
The 125-124 overtime loss feels heavier because it drops the Nets to 0-4. Yet the big-picture implications of this performance are far more encouraging than the pain of another “moral victory.” At least that’s the hope.
Of course that doesn’t change Brooklyn’s reality — this was a game they could have stolen. Finding the first win won’t get any easier with a tough week ahead against the Pistons, Pacers, and Knicks. With all this, you’d think a 5-of-17 night in a loss would be a nightmare scenario for Brown Jr. and the Nets.
And why not? Because at least the signs were extremely encouraging. Mikel Brown Jr. finished with 17 points, five rebounds and five assists in 28 minutes. He scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, where knocked down 4-of-6 from the field and 3-of-4 from three, to go along with three assists and two rebounds. He was everywhere.
Most importantly, he showed signs of the clutch gene, a player who wanted the ball with the game on the line and hit the shots. Not just one, multiple. Just ask Chris Paul.
Mikal Brown Jr!! Big shot and could tell he wanted the ball for that shot.
This is a big deal for an organization who hasn’t had a homegrown All-Star since Brook Lopez.
Mikel Brown Jr.’s 4th Quarter & OT Highlights
In the fourth quarter, Brown Jr. shot 3-of-4 from three with three assists and two rebounds. The Nets trailed by three with Boston at the line for two free throws. There was a 3% chance they won the game with 13 seconds left.
Tough downhill drive in traffic with the game on the line:
Mikel Brown Jr. scores a tough drive over three Celtics to tie the game in the final minute.
But he loses Derrick White on a backdoor cut on the other end for an and-one. Rookie growing pains.
It happened, though. For all the good he did — for all the ice in his veins leading up to the final seconds — he barely missed a finger roll. Up by one with under 10 seconds left, the 20-year-old made a puzzling decision to force a shot rather than letting Boston commit the deliberate foul.
The definition of a rookie mistake.
Mikel Brown Jr. missed a two easy and wide-open layup in the final seconds of the game.
“I did see the open lane, and I thought I had a layup, but the ball was kind of already slipping out of my hands, and PG was already coming towards my right side. So I felt like if I didn’t go up with it, I kind of was gonna fall out of bounds,” Brown Jr. said after the game.
Mikel Brown Jr. on attempting the layup in the final seconds up one rather than pulling the ball out:
“I did see the open lane, and I thought I had a layup, but the ball was kind of already slipping out of my hands, and PG was already coming towards my right side. So I felt like… pic.twitter.com/napZrAEk8e
“It’s a broken play. I blame me. We weren’t supposed to switch that & I switched it. Made a couple of mistakes down the stretch that hurt us. So I’m gonna take the blame on it. Learn from it, get prepared for next game,” Brown Jr. said about the defensive lapse.
Michael Porter Jr. was there by the rookie’s side.
In the aftermath, Brown’s father, Chris, and writer Kevin O’Connor got into a back-and-forth over re Brown’s up-and-down game…
Boy that's a rough loss for Brooklyn. So many chances to put Boston away in overtime. One bad decision after another by Mikel Brown, but hard to blame a rookie guard in his third game and not the third-year head coach Jordi Fernández for better preparing his team for a moment…
@kevinoconnor there was 1 questionable decision not one after another. You sound basis and like a hater. It’s about time people start calling writers like yourself. Jordi, the Nets organization and MIKEL BROWN JR WILL prove guys like you wrong. This post BOOKMARK.
I know exactly why you saying this, you haven’t wrote anything about Kel or nets all season and couldn’t wait to kick in a moment like this… probably was over there hoping they loose.
Chris Brown has a history of defending his son. At Louisville, he also defended Mikel, but this was his first posting in defense of Mikel on the NBA stage.
Interestingly, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic came to Mikel’s defense…
I have seen the end of Celtics-Nets from last night. I get that Mikel Brown Jr. missed those shots, but I want him taking those shots. The decision-making was fine on three of the four shots. The one step-back wasn't great, but IDK, sometimes the shots don't fall for rookies.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 12: Jordan McLaughlin #0 of the San Antonio Spurs smiles during the game against the Utah Jazz during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 12, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.
It’s the second night of a back-to-back for the Spurs, but they should be pretty well rested after last night’s easy blowout of the Kings, who didn’t seem too interested in playing a basketball game in San Antonio. I’ve seen a lot more enthusiasm at a Halloween apple bobbing contest than the Kings were putting out last night, who really didn’t have their heads or any other parts of their bodies in the game, except maybe Damontas Sabonis, who made some nice plays around the basket.
Tonight, they’re in Utah to face Will Hardy’s Jazz, who are a much better coached squad than the Doug Christie’s Kings. The Jazz have a rest advantage, but are missing the services of Jaren Jackson Jr., and Lauri Markkannen and Jaxson Hayes are questionable. Mo Bamba has been taking the place of Hayes, and playing well. Tobias Harris is still out for the Spurs, but they have a pretty clean injury sheet otherwise, with everyone who played last night available for tonight’s contest. The Jazz are 1-3 on the season, and this looks like a very winnable game for the Silver and Black tonight if they can play with the kind of poise and effort of last night’s blowout win. The talent gap is enormous, and should carry the Silver and Black to a win tonight.
For local viewers, this game is on DAZN only, which means that you needed to pay another bill just to watch these games. I salute your dedication to the cause. Let’s GOO Spurs!!
Game Prediction:
The Spurs bring Ja’Kobi Gillespie and David Jones Garcia on the trip so that Mitch can play a 5 guard lineup in crunch time.
San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz October 28, 2026 | 8:00 PM CT Streaming: DAZN, League Pass TV: DAZN Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - OCTOBER 26: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball during the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center on October 26, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (2-2) hope to spoil the Oklahoma City Thunder’s (4-0) perfect record to date on a nationally televised game on ESPN. Dallas returns home after a one-game trip in which they dispatched the Miami Heat in the final moments. The Thunder are trying to hold on for dear life as their rotation players get injured, seemingly left and right. Here’s what you need to know:
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder
WHAT: Primetime national TV game at home
WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
WHEN: 8:30 pm CST
HOW: ESPN
The injury report is a long one for both teams, something that’s really annoying for the fifth game of the season. Kyrie Irving is questionable with injury management, but I expect he plays. Caleb Martin is also questionable with a thumb sprain. Dallas will be missing Sergio De Larrea with a sprained knee and Naji Marshall with an illness. Tarik Biberovic and Santi Aldama are missing as well, but the latter might be back Friday.
The Thunder are missing a host of players. Ajay Mitchell is questionable with an ankle sprain. Jalen Williams is out for the year following that terrible ankle injury. Cason Wallace will end up missing a huge chunk of the season with a shoulder tear. Alex Caruso, Chet Holmgren, Thomas Sorber, and Nikola Topic are out as well.
Dallas has a chance to notch a win over one of the best and deepest teams in the NBA. They are missing a ton of bodies and SGA is still a MVP-type player. There’s a deeper preview here as well as the gambling post as well.
Since you’re here checking out this post, it’s for one of two reasons.
Injury report news
Discussion and comment thread
If you’re part of the former, please consider signing up for an account. You get way fewer ads, and you can comment! If you’re part of the latter group: GO GET THE APP. I’m serious. The app has some real-time features specifically for game threads like this one and you can comment and get notified really, really easily. It’s part of what’s keeping this whole series of sites going. So go do it for us and in doing so, you’ll see why the experience is simply better.
Consider joining me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube; I will be going live tonight, and I need y’all to join and participate!
“I’ll be good,” Dëmin said. “It’s nothing serious, so I’ll be ready to go.”
Egor Dëmin looks on during the Nets’ 125-124 OT loss to the Celtics on Oct. 27, 206 at TD Garden in Boston. NBAE via Getty Images
The Nets practice Thursday and don’t have to file an injury designation for either player until later that afternoon. They’ll host the Pistons on Friday.
Dëmin was unsure if he’d require any further examination or suit up vs. Detroit.
“I have no idea,” Dëmin said. “Right now I have no idea. Whatever is going to be needed to be checked or whatever it is, I have no idea. I’m just working here.”
The young Russian was forced off the floor with two minutes left in the first half. He knocked legs while defending Paul George and came up gimpy on the Nets’ ensuing possession. Dëmin limped off the court and into the locker room.
“Yeah, when he was driving by me, end up hitting each other’s legs,” Dëmin said.
Nolan Traore handles the ball during the Nets’ overtime loss to the Celtics. NBAE via Getty Images
“I just got hit and I got kneed in a muscle bone area, a little funny, like an elbow, like a tiny spot. Yeah, I thought, I don’t know how many times I got hit in there before. So I was fine. But then obviously had to get out. Now it feels better than right [then], so I think I’ll be ready in a couple of days.”
After losing Dëmin in the second quarter, the Nets lost the other half of their backcourt in the fourth.
Traore had come off the bench for the first three games of the season. After a 17-point, five-assist performance against the Pacers, he got rewarded with the start in Boston.
The French point guard burst out of the gate and spotted the Nets an early lead. He scored nine first-quarter points on 4-of-4 shooting, getting downhill and beating Jayson Tatum and Paul George on drives.
But Traore eventually called for a sub die to cramping. It’s an issue he suffered from last season as a rookie.
Traore left for good 1:23 into the fourth, finishing with 15 points and three assists on 6-of-9 shooting, 1-of-2 from deep.
“Yeah, he was cramping; and then I felt like he was not moving well,” coach Jordi Fernández said. “And as you guys know, Nolan is a guy that has great energy, can touch the paint anytime. And just for that reason, I felt like I didn’t want to change anything. And I know he wanted to because he wanted to battle through it, but I almost just felt like I had to save him for myself.”
MINNEAPOLIS — Steve Kerr was happy to see the NBA’s crackdown this season on flopping, one of his many hobby horses. But its inconsistent implementation left him scratching his head.
“It’s interesting,” the Warriors coach said Wednesday before they took on the Timberwolves. “I think everybody’s trying to figure out what’s a flop and what’s not.”
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, left, argues with referee Sean Corbin after Kerr received a technical foul during an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
Meanwhile, the Warriors have yet to have a flop called for or against them in their first four games of the season, despite Kerr’s consistent pleading with referees.
But he wasn’t afraid to send a public message to the NBA.
“We should be the No Bulls–t Association,” Kerr said. “Like, every bit of bulls–t the players try to pull, we should just say no, no, we’re not doing that. It’s a better game when guys aren’t flopping into each other, hooking each other, running into screens looking like they got hit by a car.
“It’s just a better game when officials have the ability to say, ‘No, we’re not buying into that.’ I feel like we are constantly as a league behind the players. The players are grifting and we’re chasing them, and we’re never getting ahead of them. That’s my biggest issue with it.”
Kerr clarified that he wasn’t complaining about the referees.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, right, directs his team against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in Denver. AP Photo/David Zalubowski
“I’m always calculated in the things that I say because I want the best thing for the league,” Kerr said. “I think sometimes it’s good to make these things a talking point. Obviously the flopping stuff last night became a talking point, so I’m adding my two cents.
“But I have been really consistent in my time here that anything that is BS should just be banished.”
There is at least one tried and true method for eliminating flopping, according to Kerr. He said he was talking with another coach who had the players call their own fouls in training camp.
“When you have the players call their own fouls, they don’t flop,” Kerr said. “I’m not saying that’s the answer. I think our officials do a great job. … What I’m saying is we need to stay ahead of all the players grifting. Easier said than done.”
According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, the Chicago White Sox are listed as a top candidate to land Tarik Skubal during free agency.
Tarik Skubal in the Dodgers dugout during Game 4 of the NLCS against the Brewers. Wally Skalij for the CA Post
Barring a potential lockout on Dec. 1, Skubal is decorated as the top free agent this offseason.
The two-time CY Young Award winner made his way to Los Angeles during the trade deadline last July and was as good as advertised, pitching in 10 games with a 5-2 record, 2.61 ERA, while having a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 70-13.
The Dodgers have never been shy about shelling out money towards big-ticket free agents in the past and would certainly have to give Skubal a high figure to remain in Los Angeles, as Bowden believes he will receive a deal that will make him the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history (in terms of AAV and guaranteed dollars.)
Tarik Skubal pitching during the NLCS against the Brewers. AP Photo/Ashley LandisTarik Skubal reacting to Brewers’ Andrew Vaughn hitting a single during the NCLS. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Bowden wrote that Skubal will likely receive a contract that will pay him around $350-$500 million, and have an annual salary that compares to Shohei Ohtani’s ($70 million AAV before deferrals) and Zach Wheeler ($42 million AAV).
Two years removed from having a record-breaking losing season where they went 41-121, the White Sox spent that time prior to the 2026 season moving off any high-end contracts that they had.
As Chicago bolsters a pitching staff that features young core led by Sean Burke (3.34 ERA) and Grant Taylor (2.25 ERA), Skubal could be the right man to lead the White Sox starting rotation.
Despite Bowden’s belief that Chicago has the funds to pull off a Skubal signing, in an exclusive with The California Post, Dodgers owner Mark Walter told Jack Harris that he plans to continue handing out top-dollar contracts to free agents.
Brooklyn Nets' Mikel Brown Jr. (0) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics' Hugo Gonzalez (28) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at TD Garden in Boston, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026.
With Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Dëmin leading a pack of seven first-round draft picks the past two years, the Nets were always going to suffer growing pains.
And the Nets hope for plenty of growth down the line.
Brown, the No. 6 overall pick, had what should have been a breakout moment in a thrilling victory in Boston. He poured in 13 points in a fourth-quarter Nets comeback, including a clutch 3-pointer with three-tenths of a second left to force overtime.
Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) plays during the second half of a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in Boston, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
But it was in that dramatic extra stanza that Brown made a pair of typical rookie mistakes, mental gaffes on each end of the floor that will be galling today but growth opportunities for tomorrow.
“[Jordi Fernández] obviously acknowledged, ‘This wasn’t just on you. It’s a team effort.’ But I set standards for myself when it comes to that stuff,” the 20-year-old Brown said. “As a guard, time management, blowing coverages on the defensive end, that I just can’t have. I’m gonna go watch that film with the coaches, go watch film with Jordi, break it down, learn from it and be better.”
Much of the film won’t be fun. But it may end up being fruitful.
It will show Brown’s 17 points, five assists and five boards in his best game yet.
But it will show the time-management mistake, when Brown missed a pair of late layup attempts in overtime, the second of which was ill-advised.
He should’ve pulled the ball out and bled the clock. But he drove and missed with 2.3 seconds left in overtime to give Boston one last chance.
Brooklyn Nets’ Mikel Brown Jr. (0) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics’ Hugo Gonzalez (28) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at TD Garden in Boston, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. Getty Images
“It was discussed to just try to get it in, and try to kill time. That definitely was discussed,” Brown acknowledged. “But like I said, man, it’s just mistakes down the stretch that I just can’t make. I just can’t do that, so …”
It proved a costly mistake.
Though Dëmin pointed out it was not purely a rookie one, citing De’Aaron Fox’s similar NBA Finals Game 4 call to go for a layup rather than run the clock that cost the Spurs.
“Listen, I don’t think it’s a good idea to refer to him being a rookie. That happens to anybody. We saw in the Finals something similar happened,” said Dëmin. “I don’t think anybody should be taking blame for that. It’s a team effort and team results. So, there’s so many things we can learn from not just this game, but any game. It’s a great, great experience to have games like this. As many games as we can play where it’s a close ending, that’s gonna be beneficial for us in the future.”
Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) sits on the floor after being knocked over on a missed three-point attempt in overtime during a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in Boston, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Brown will be a huge part of that future. And he’ll take lessons from games like Tuesday, taking responsibility on X.
After missing the layup, his gaffe on the other end set up the winner.
The Nets weren’t supposed to switch, intent on using Noah Clowney’s length to defend Jayson Tatum. But when Brown got screened, the rookie switched and let the Celtics star end up on a smaller defender.
The Nets paid, as Tatum hit a midrange winner that beat the buzzer.
“We were supposed to stay home, especially on Tatum, keep Noah on Tatum. I got caught up because I didn’t know which way Payton [Pritchard] was gonna go, and we ended up switching,” said Brown. “So, completely put the blame on myself. I can’t just break the coverage like that. I just take full accountability of it. It’s gonna be hard watching the film, and I’m just gonna learn from it.”
After Brown had just one point through three quarters — on 0-for-5 shooting — he erupted for 13 in the fourth on 4-for-6 from the floor and 3-for-4 from deep.
Maybe fatigued from logging a career-high 27 minutes, Brown was 1-for-4 from behind the arc in overtime. Instinct says get to the rim. In this instance, tactics and discipline had to override instinct.
It’s a lesson Brown will learn. And be better for.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 27: Ben Williamson #15 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off single during Game Four of the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
After an extra innings thriller won by the Rays Tuesday night, it’s game 5 of the World Series as the Brewers will try again to lock down a championship with Jacob Misiorowski on the mound. Rays starter will be Drew Rasmussen. First pitch set for 7pm central time and the game broadcast will be handled by Fox.
Ernie Johnson interviews the New York Knicks' Josh Hart, left, and Mikal Bridges after Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals. Johnson announced Wednesday that he was leaving "Inside the NBA" after decades as the iconic show's host. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
Ernie Johnson, the bow-tie-wearing, peace-keeping host of “Inside the NBA,” is leaving the show after 37 years.
“It’s just time,” the 70-year-old broadcaster said in a video posted Wednesday on social media.
“So why now? Total honesty here. I’ve always prided myself on my preparation, the hours I put in every day getting ready for the next show. I’ve always loved that part of my job, but I’ve always vowed that if that ever became more of a challenge than it is a joy, then I’ll know it’s time to step away. And now, after 37 seasons, it’s time.”
“Inside the NBA” started on TNT in 1989, and Johnson became host the following season. Over the years, he was joined by analysts Kenny Smith (1998), Charles Barkley (2000) and Shaquille O’Neal (2011) in a lineup that has become beloved to generations of basketball fans — so much so that the show switched over to ESPN when TNT lost its NBA rights.
“Few people have shaped the way fans experience the NBA as profoundly as Ernie Johnson,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “His brilliance as a broadcaster is matched by his character, compassion and generosity, which have been evident throughout his 37 years as host of ‘Inside the NBA.’ We are grateful for Ernie’s extraordinary impact on our league and look forward to celebrating him during his final season.”
Johnson repeated his announcement to open the crew’s appearance on ESPN’s “NBA Tip-Off” on Wednesday, then asked a clearly emotional Barkley how he was doing.
Take a listen to Ernie Johnson speaking on stepping away from Inside the NBA after 37 years ❤️ pic.twitter.com/JTKIBHNRkm
“That was tough,” Barkley said. “We knew the day was coming — still tough. Been here for 26, 27 years, and it’s been an honor and a privilege to work with you all this time, and Kenny and Shaq and the amazing people behind the scenes. ...
“It’s been an amazing journey. You’ve been our leader. Our unquestionable leader. The question I’m asked the most … is, is Ernie Johnson as good a person as he seems? And I say, man, he’s better than that. So I just want to say thank you. Thank you for being our leader for all these years. … All I can say, Ernie, is thank you.”
Smith gave Johnson a standing ovation, and O’Neal said Johnson was the reason he joined the crew.
The Inside The NBA crew reacts to Ernie Johnson announcing this will be his last season on the show ❤️ pic.twitter.com/kLF2foSLgl
“You are the controller of this thing people call the circus — the best circus in town, but without you, it’s going to be very, very difficult,” O’Neal said. “Chuck made a great point. All we can say is thank you, and we appreciate you. We’re gonna miss you, and we will see you around, but thanks for the great run.”
In a video posted on X, Golden State Warriors forward and frequent “Inside the NBA” guest Draymond Green perfectly summed up Johnson’s role on the show.
“He is the best point guard I’ve ever played with — that’s no disrespect to the great Steph Curry,” Green said in a video posted Wednesday on X. “Ernie Johnson on a set is as incredible as they come. He sees everything. He’s like, ‘Man, this guy hasn’t spoke for a while. Let me toss it to him. Man, this conversation is going off the rails a little bit’ — as it can on that show — ‘let me rein it back in.’ ... This guy is amazing.”
Johnson also shared that he’s been dealing with “heart issues” for almost two years, including undergoing bypass surgery two months ago, and that it was a “contributing factor” in his decision.
“Still trying to get this thing to beat exactly the way it should, and we’re getting it,” Johnson said. “I mean, I feel great. So this isn’t a case where my doctor said you need to stop working. It’s nothing like that. But here’s the deal: Going through that has made me treasure even more every second with my amazing wife of 44 years, Cheryl Ann, and being Poppy to our five grandchildren. So I just want to slow down a bit, spend more time enjoying that.
“Just to be clear, I’m not retiring; just cutting back. I’ll still do March Madness and other projects for TNT and CBS, and I’ve just started a new production company called 32 Bowties, geared toward telling feel-good stories in sports. So this is by no means the end. It’s just a turning of the page.”
